Over 1000 Attendees Enjoy First Annual Italy Expo, Celebrating Italy in Tampa
A group of Tampa businesses and city leaders has hosted the first annual Italy Expo in Tampa Bay. The event, which took place February 4 through 6 in Tampa, aims to foster greater commercial exchange between Tampa Bay and Italy.
On the occasion of Italy Expo, the City of Tampa has illuminated downtown landmarks in green, white and red in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Tampa-Agrigento Sister Cities Affiliation. “Italians began settling and shaping Tampa’s character nearly 150 years ago, and this community would not be the wonderful place it is today without that heritage. We particularly cherish our sister cities relationship with Agrigento. The Italy Expo is an exciting, new tradition that I expect will thrive for many years to come and promote even closer ties between Tampa and our brothers and sisters in Italy,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
With 57 exhibiting brands and 32 sponsors, Italy Expo has featured cooking demonstrations by celebrated Agrigento chef Salvatore Argento, and American TV and cookbook star Giuliano Hazan, wine and olive oil tastings and contests, as well as exhibits of all manner of Sicilian food, fashion and design, together with Italian music and a virtual reality tour of archaeological sites around Agrigento (conducted by the University of South Florida). Exhibitors from Agrigento, along with various community representatives, have taken part in the Expo. Sponsors included local business, cultural and government leaders such as law firm Shumaker, Italian tech company Clevertech North America, the City of Tampa, Visit Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County.
Italy Expo has been produced by Piazze d’Italia, an organization that works to increase commercial activities between Italy and Tampa Bay.
More about Italy Expo here: